Tinnitus and Dehydration
Tinnitus is commonly called “ringing in the ears,” but some people have really loud noises (or roaring, hissing, buzzing, or ringing) in their ears that can block out outside noises and conversations. It can be caused by loud noises or music, ototoxic medications, earwax buildup, allergies, ear or sinus infection, congestion, jaw or bite misalignment (TMJ disorder), cardiovascular disease, disease Meniere’s disease, a tumor on the auditory nerve, otosclerosis, hypothyroidism, head or neck trauma and, believe it or not, dehydration.
The body is 70 percent water, and the delicate bones and accompanying tissues in the ear are very sensitive, even to dehydration. Once the tissues dry out, there is no flexibility in the tiny joints of the little “listening” bones. Fluid imbalance can cause the tiny hairs in the cochlea of the inner ear to become damaged. Damage can also come from loud noises like a lawn mower and rock concerts. Even MP3 players turned up too high can cause damage. The damage can become permanent if too little healthy water is ingested over time or if you are regularly in a noisy environment. Chronic dehydration can worsen inner ear function, so be sure to drink plenty of healthy water, not coffee, fruit juices, carbonated drinks, or bottled water.
If you find you have tinnitus after a loud noise event, start drinking more water and avoid other loud noises for a few days. You don’t want the ring to become permanent. If you find that ear noises persist, avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, caffeine, aspirin, and nicotine, as they can make the noises worse. Although aspirin and certain antibiotics can make tinnitus worse, your doctor can help you make substitutions or regulate the dose to make you more comfortable.
If you run or play sports you will want to drink plenty of healthy water. Overheating can aggravate tinnitus just as much as dehydration.
In recent years, researchers have used magnetic resonance imaging to detect brain activity in people with tinnitus. They have found hyperactivity in the auditory cortex and in certain parts of the limbic brain, which are not normally found in people without noise in their ears. The limbic brain governs responses to stress, such as anxiety and emotions. The researchers say it’s not that tinnitus is stress-induced, but that the part of the brain that produces fearful emotions is overactive in tinnitus sufferers.
For a long time, the questions of medical professionals and scientists have been where the “buzzer” is located. They know that people could “hear” the noise, but they wondered if it was in their ears or in their brains. Noise was postulated to have arisen when sound passed from the ear to the central nervous system and brain. When hearing was assaulted by prolonged loud noise, even for a short time, and there was trauma, the brain tried to compensate by turning on its own amplifier. But just like a shortwave radio, you hear more sound as well as hear more hiss. But now, along with MRIs, scientists are beginning to unravel the mysteries of tinnitus.
In Germany and Belgium, research is showing promise with a treatment protocol called transcranial magnetic stimulation with some patients. This treatment consists of placing a magnetic plate just above the ear and holding it where the auditory cortex is located. When electrical current is pulsed through the plates, faulty brain signals are postulated to be disrupted and possibly even restored. The painless 5 to 30 minute sessions do not require anesthesia, but they do require expensive equipment found only in major neurology centers.
In the last two years, some interesting developments have emerged from the pharmaceutical industry. A very dangerous procedure was tried, injecting lidocaine, an anesthetic, into the bloodstream of a tinnitus patient. There was a complete absence of symptoms for five minutes. This is not a recommended treatment, but what it told the researchers is that somewhere in the brain there is an off switch. Investigators are now actively searching for it.
In my clinic, I have several clients who have lost their tinnitus from drinking alkaline ionized water. The level of their chronic dehydration was the benchmark for how long it took to go away. This healthy water gently neutralized the acidic condition that is associated with dehydration to create all sorts of symptoms in the body, including ringing in the ears. Try my 7 day water challenge. It’s free and you’ll feel better for it.